These should come as second nature to a seasoned brewer. When you're juggling hop additions, equipment problems, and other brew day distractions like chasing kids or dogs away from 7 gallons of boiling hot liquids, it's easy to overlook some of them.

1. Begin With High-Quality Components.
This may seem insignificant, but you'd be shocked how long some liquid malt extract sits in your local home brew shop. Ingredients are sent quickly by online sellers such as Adventures in Home Refractometer brewing, Northern Brewer, and Midwest Supplies, with some getting shipments every week. If you're an all-grain brewer who buys pre-crushed grain, attempt to use it the same week you have it. If you don't have time to brew right away, store the crushed grain in the refrigerator for a few weeks.

2. Make A Yeast Starter And Make Sure You Use The Right Amount Of Yeast.
First, whether your yeast is dry or liquid, make sure to keep it refrigerated when it arrives. Although dry yeast is less delicate than liquid yeast, keep it refrigerated if you don't plan to use it straight away. If you order liquid yeast online during the summer, request that it be packed in an ice pack. If you're making a high-gravity beer like a Double IPA or Imperial Stout, don't just toss the contents of the smack pack or vial into the word; that small amount of yeast will become stressed, and your beer won't finish fermenting. For a huge beer, you'll need a lot of yeast! Make a yeast starter after checking MrMalty.com for the exact amount of yeast to pitch for the homebrewing equipment. A yeast starter is essentially a smaller amount of unhopped wort to which you add your yeast in order for it to multiply and be prolific!

3. Gather all of the Items You'll Need PRIOR To Starting The Brewing Process.
Nothing is more frustrating than scrambling for ingredients or equipment on a brew day. It's incredibly easy to forget to add some ingredients or to time them incorrectly. We make a list of each phase of my brewing day, as well as the equipment and supplies That need for each step. Then, before WEstart mashing, WEput out everything That need on the bed in my bedroom, right next to the patio door where WEbrew. Nothing will be contaminated by outdoor pests or airborne grain particles in this manner. It'll be waiting for me when I'm ready to use it. Also, double-check your gear.

4. Examine Your Water Supply
The general rule is that if it doesn't taste nice, it won't create decent beer. Also, if you're an all-grain brewer, be sure your pH is correct. You won't get optimal starch conversion if your mash water is excessively alkaline. A solution like Five Star's 5.2 pH Stabilizer will ensure that the pH of your mash water is optimal for conversion. It is reasonably priced for the level of assurance it will provide. Just be careful not to overdo it; too much can give your beer a chalky, minerals, or salty flavor. Contact local water company if you want to utilize tap water; they will gladly send you a detailed water profile for your neighborhood.

5. Mash The Potatoes At The Proper Temperature
This is typically the cause of complaints from new all-grain brewers that their beer is excessively watery or sugary for the type. The temperature of the mashed potatoes should be between 140 and 160 degrees Fahrenheit. The closer you go to 140 degrees Fahrenheit when mashing, the dryer (less sweet) and thinner (waterier) your finished beer will be. Lower mash temperatures yield more fermentable, giving the yeast more to chew on.

About Company
With Gutenberg, making a stir plate from old computer parts for yeast starters, mash ton manifold, and immersion chiller were all more difficult. Resist the urge to give in. You'll notice that you remember all of your modifications, reach all of your temps, and are less anxious in the event of an equipment failure. If you run out of propane in the middle of a boil! Be watchful, and when you're through, take pleasure in the benefits of your labor. Once you've finished and are waiting for the airlock to start boiling, sit back and enjoy that beer - it'll be delicious!